Disposable massage apparatus

ABSTRACT

A disposable massage apparatus having a massage actuator operatively engaged to a holding member which defines a slot adapted to receive a conductivity blocker that prevents operation of the massage apparatus is disclosed. In operation, the user withdraws the conductivity blocker from the slot in order to make the massage apparatus operational while re-inserting the conductivity blocker into the slot makes the massage apparatus inoperative.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The presently described technology generally relates to a massageapparatus, and more particularly to a disposable massage apparatus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, a disposable massage apparatus may include adisposable massage apparatus having a holding member, the holding memberdefining a battery compartment adapted to receive at least one batteryfor providing a power source to the massage apparatus, a massageactuator for providing a vibration massage function, the massageactuator including an actuator casing engaged to the holding member witha slot defined between the holding member and the actuator casing, themassage actuator being in operative association with the at least onebattery through an electrical circuit that provides power to the massageactuator from the at least one battery, and a conductivity blocker, theconductivity blocker being adapted to be inserted through the slot foropening the electrical circuit between the at least one battery and themassage actuator and prevent operation of the massage apparatus.

In another embodiment, the disposable massage apparatus may include adisposable massage apparatus having a holding member, the holding memberdefining a battery compartment adapted to receive at least one batteryfor providing a power source to the massage apparatus, the holdingmember defining a slot; a massage actuator for providing a vibrationmassage function, the massage actuator including an actuator casingengaged to the holding member, the massage actuator being in operativeassociation with the at least one battery through an electrical circuitthat provides power to the massage actuator from the at least onebattery; and a conductivity blocker, the conductivity blocker beingadapted to be inserted into the slot for opening the electrical circuitbetween the at least one battery and the massage actuator and preventoperation of the massage apparatus.

In yet another embodiment, may include a method of permitting orpreventing operation of a massage apparatus including:

-   -   a) providing a massage apparatus including a holding member, the        holding member defining a battery compartment adapted to receive        at least one battery for providing a power source to the massage        apparatus; a massage actuator for providing a vibration massage        function, the massage actuator including an actuator casing        engaged to the holding member with a slot defined between the        holding member and the actuator casing, the massage actuator        being in operative association with the at least one battery        through an electrical circuit that provides power to the massage        actuator from the at least one battery; and a conductivity        blocker, the conductivity blocker being received through the        slot for opening the electrical circuit between the at least one        battery and the massage actuator and prevent operation of the        massage apparatus; and    -   b) withdrawing the conductivity blocker from the slot such that        the electrical circuit becomes closed and permits operation of        the massage actuator.

Implementation of the above embodiments may include one or more of thefollowing features:

-   -   When the conductivity blocker is removed from the slot the        electrical circuit is closed and permits operation of the        massage apparatus;    -   The massage actuator is made operational when the conductivity        blocker is removed from the slot and made non-operational when        the conductivity blocker is inserted into the slot;    -   At least one battery includes a positive terminal and a negative        terminal in operative association with the electrical circuit;    -   The massage apparatus is made inoperative when the conductivity        blocker is interposed between the positive terminal of the at        least one battery and the electrical circuit;    -   The massage apparatus is made operative when the conductivity        blocker is removed from between the positive terminal of the at        least one battery and the electrical circuit;    -   The massage apparatus is made inoperative when the conductivity        blocker is interposed between the negative terminal of the at        least one battery and the electrical circuit;    -   The massage apparatus is made operative when the conductivity        blocker is removed from between the negative terminal of the at        least one battery and the electrical circuit;    -   The conductivity blocker is made from an electrically insulating        material;    -   The actuator casing defines a plurality of longitudinal ribs;    -   The massage actuator includes an electric motor, the electric        motor including a rotatable motor shaft having an eccentric mass        adapted to be spun by the rotatable motor shaft in order to        provide the vibration massage function; and/or    -   The electric motor includes a metallic cap in operative        association with the electric circuit, the conductivity blocker        being interposed between the negative terminal of the at least        one battery and metallic cap of the electric motor when the        conductivity blocker is inserted into the slot.

Additional objectives, advantages and novel features will be set forthin the description which follows or will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and detaileddescription which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disposable massage apparatus inaccordance with an embodiment of the presently described technology;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the disposable massage apparatus in accordancewith an embodiment of the presently described technology;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the disposable massage apparatustaken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresently described technology;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the disposable massageapparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the presently describedtechnology;

FIG. 5 is another exploded side view of the disposable massage apparatusin accordance with an embodiment of the presently described technology;

FIG. 5A is an end view of the disposable massage apparatus taken alongline 5A-5A of FIG. 5 in accordance with an embodiment of the presentlydescribed technology;

FIG. 5B is another end view of the disposable massage apparatus takenalong line 5B-5B of FIG. 5 in accordance with an embodiment of thepresently described technology;

FIG. 6 is another exploded view of an embodiment of the disposablemassage apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the presentlydescribed technology; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the disposablemassage apparatus.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements amongthe view of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, a disposable massage apparatus is illustratedand generally indicated as 10 in FIGS. 1-7. In one embodiment, thedisposable massage apparatus 10 may include a massage actuator 12 havingan actuator casing 22 for providing a vibration massage function. Theactuator casing 22 is operatively engaged to a holding member 13 thatdefines a battery compartment 14 (FIG. 3) for providing power to operatethe massage actuator 12 as shall be discussed in greater detail below.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, holding member 13 may define a batterycompartment 14 adapted to operatively engage a battery 18 having anegative terminal 50 and a positive terminal 52 for connection to anelectrical circuit as shall be discussed in greater detail below. Inaddition, the holding member 13 defines a plurality of longitudinalindentations 46 which provide an ergonomic gripping surface for theuser.

As shown in FIG. 6, the holding member 13 further defines an opening 42having a circular boss 38 concentrically surrounded by a circular recess40, while actuator casing 22 defines an opening 66 in communication witha chamber 68. Referring to FIG. 4, circular boss 38 is adapted to beinserted inside opening 66 in order to engage holding member 13 toactuator casing 22. This engagement secures holding member 13 toactuator casing 22 such that a shoulder 76 may be defined by holdingmember 13 that is adapted to abut one end of an electric motor 20 andsecure the electric motor 20 inside actuator casing 22. As shown in FIG.5B, the holding member 13 may include a plurality of longitudinal ribs44 defined along inside portion of the battery compartment 14 which areadapted to secure battery 18 inside holding member 13.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5A, as noted above opening 66 of actuatorcasing 22 communicates with an interior chamber 68. Further, opening 66defines a recess portion 70 that forms a portion of a slot 30 definedbetween the actuator casing 22 and holding member 13 when the twocomponents are engaged together. In one embodiment, a conductivityblocker 16 may be inserted through slot 30 in order to prevent operationof the disposable massage actuator 10, while removal of the conductivityblocker 16 from slot 30 permits operation of the disposable massageapparatus 10 as shall be explained in greater detail below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electric motor 20 is disposed inside theinterior chamber 68 of actuator casing 22 in order to provide avibration massage function when disposable massage apparatus 10 is madeoperational by removal of the conductivity blocker 16 from slot 30.Electric motor 20 may include an eccentric mass 24 mounted on arotatable motor shaft 26 which spins the eccentric mass 24 when motorshaft 26 is rotated by electric motor 20 to provide the vibrationfunction. As further shown, electric motor 20 includes a metallic pole58 for operative association with the positive terminal 52 of battery 18in order to provide power to electric motor 20, and a metallic pole 54that contacts a metallic cap 56 for operative association with thenegative terminal 50 of battery 18.

A plurality of longitudinal ribs 36 is defined along the interior ofactuator casing 22 to secure the electric motor 20 inside chamber 68. Inone embodiment, three longitudinal ribs 36 are defined along chamber 68with each rib 36 defining a step 62 for engaging and securing theelectric motor 20 inside chamber 68.

As noted above, the electrical circuit of the disposable massageapparatus 10 provides power to the electric motor 20 from the negativeand positive terminals 50 and 52 of battery 18. Referring to FIGS. 3 and5, the electrical circuit may include a metallic conductor 28 having adistal end 72 for operative engagement with the metallic pole 58 ofelectrical motor 20 and a proximal end 70 for operative engagement withthe positive terminal 52 of battery 18. In addition, the electricalcircuit may include the operative association between the metallic cap56 of electrical motor 20 with the negative terminal 50 of battery 18 asdiscussed above.

As shown in FIG. 4, the proximal end 70 of metallic conductor 28 may besoldered at position 60 such that the metallic conductor 28 isoperatively engaged to the metallic pole 58, while the distal end 72 ofmetallic conductor 28 may define a base 64 adapted to engage acompression spring 32 which may be engaged to the positive terminal 52of battery 18. This structural arrangement forms the electrical circuitthat supplies power between the battery 18 and the electric motor 20.

The conductivity blocker 16 may be made of an electrically insulatingmaterial for preventing or permitting operation of the massage apparatus10. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 6, when the conductivity blocker 16is inserted in direction A through slot 30 one end of the conductivityblocker 16 is disposed between metallic cap 56 and the negative terminal50 of battery 18, thereby opening the electrical circuit that preventsoperation of the electric motor 20. Conversely, removing theconductivity blocker 16 from slot 30 closes the electrical circuit andpermits operation of the electric motor 20.

Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of the massage apparatus 10 isillustrated. In this embodiment, holding member 13 defines a slot 48adapted to receive conductivity blocker 16 for preventing operation ofthe massage apparatus 10 by blocking the electrical circuit between theelectric motor 20 and the negative terminal 50 of battery 18. In thisembodiment, the base 64 of the metallic conductor 28 includes a metalliccap 34 adapted to engage the negative terminal 50 of battery 18 suchthat power is supplied to the electric motor 20 through the electricalcircuit. Insertion of one end of the conductivity blocker 16 into slot48 in direction B will interpose the conductivity blocker 16 between themetallic cap 34 and the negative terminal 50 of battery 18, therebyopening the electrical circuit and preventing operation of the massageapparatus 10. Similar to the above embodiment, withdrawing theconductivity blocker 16 from slot 48 closes the electrical circuit andpermits operation of electric motor 20.

Although the location of the slots 30 and 48 may be different, theinsertion of the conductivity blocker 16 through either slot 30 or 48 ofthe two embodiments will effectively open the electrical circuit andprevent operation of the massage apparatus 10. Accordingly, theelectrical circuit may be opened or closed with respect to the negativeterminal 50 or positive terminal 52 by inserting or withdrawing theconductivity blocker 16 from either slot 30 or slot 48 depending uponthe embodiment of massage apparatus being used.

If desired, the user may dispose of the massage apparatus 10 after useor re-insert the conductivity blocker 16 into either slot 30 or 48 inorder to terminate operation of the massage apparatus 10.

It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particularembodiments have been illustrated and described, various modificationscan be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changesand modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention asdefined in the claims appended hereto.

1. A disposable massage apparatus comprising: a holding member, saidholding member defining a battery compartment adapted to receive atleast one battery for providing a power source to the massage apparatus;a massage actuator for providing a vibration massage function, saidmassage actuator including an actuator casing engaged to said holdingmember with a slot defined between said holding member and said actuatorcasing, said massage actuator being in operative association with saidat least one battery through an electrical circuit that provides powerto said massage actuator from said at least one battery; and aconductivity blocker, said conductivity blocker being adapted to beinserted through said slot for opening the electrical circuit betweensaid at least one battery and said massage actuator and preventoperation of the massage apparatus.
 2. The disposable massage apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein when said conductivity blocker is removedfrom said slot the electrical circuit is closed and permits operation ofthe massage apparatus.
 3. The disposable massage apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein said massage actuator is made operational when saidconductivity blocker is removed from said slot and made non-operationalwhen said conductivity blocker is inserted into said slot.
 4. Thedisposable massage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least onebattery includes a positive terminal and a negative terminal inoperative association with the electrical circuit.
 5. The disposablemassage apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said massage apparatusis made inoperative when said conductivity blocker is interposed betweensaid positive terminal of said at least one battery and said electricalcircuit.
 6. The disposable massage actuator according to claim 4,wherein said massage apparatus is made operative when said conductivityblocker is removed from between said positive terminal of said at leastone battery and said electrical circuit.
 7. The disposable massageapparatus according to claim 4, wherein said massage apparatus is madeinoperative when said conductivity blocker is interposed between saidnegative terminal of said at least one battery and said electricalcircuit.
 8. The disposable massage apparatus according to claim 4,wherein said massage apparatus is made operative when said conductivityblocker is removed from between said negative terminal of said at leastone battery and said electrical circuit.
 9. The disposable massageapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conductivity blocker ismade from an electrically insulating material.
 10. The disposablemassage apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said actuator casingdefines a plurality of longitudinal ribs.
 11. The disposable massageapparatus according to claim 1, wherein massage actuator includes anelectric motor, said electric motor including a rotatable motor shafthaving an eccentric mass adapted to be spun by said rotatable motorshaft in order to provide said vibration massage function.
 12. Thedisposable massage apparatus according to claim 11, wherein saidelectric motor includes a metallic cap in operative association with theelectric circuit, said conductivity blocker being interposed betweensaid negative terminal of said at least one battery and metallic cap ofsaid electric motor when said conductivity blocker is inserted into saidslot.
 13. A disposable massage apparatus comprising: a holding member,said holding member defining a battery compartment adapted to receive atleast one battery for providing a power source to the massage apparatus,said holding member defining a slot; a massage actuator for providing avibration massage function, said massage actuator including an actuatorcasing engaged to said holding member, said massage actuator being inoperative association with said at least one battery through anelectrical circuit that provides power to said massage actuator fromsaid at least one battery; and a conductivity blocker, said conductivityblocker being adapted to be inserted into said slot for opening theelectrical circuit between said at least one battery and said massageactuator and prevent operation of the massage apparatus.
 14. Thedisposable massage apparatus according to claim 13, wherein when saidconductivity blocker is removed from said slot the electrical circuit isclosed and permits operation of the massage apparatus.
 15. Thedisposable massage apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said massageactuator is made operational when said conductivity blocker is removedfrom said slot and made non-operational when said conductivity blockeris inserted into said slot.
 16. A method of permitting or preventingoperation of a massage apparatus comprising: a) providing a massageapparatus comprising a holding member, said holding member defining abattery compartment adapted to receive at least one battery forproviding a power source to the massage apparatus; a massage actuatorfor providing a vibration massage function, said massage actuatorincluding an actuator casing engaged to said holding member with a slotdefined between said holding member and said actuator casing, saidmassage actuator being in operative association with said at least onebattery through an electrical circuit that provides power to saidmassage actuator from said at least one battery; and a conductivityblocker, said conductivity blocker being received through said slot foropening the electrical circuit between said at least one battery andsaid massage actuator and prevent operation of the massage apparatus;and b) withdrawing said conductivity blocker from said slot such thatsaid electrical circuit becomes closed and permits operation of saidmassage actuator.
 17. The method according to claim 16, furtherincluding the step of inserting said conductivity blocker into said slotsuch that said electrical circuit becomes open and prevents operation ofsaid massage actuator.